Cordeau connecter



" Dec. 13, 1927. 1,652,961

W. 0. SN ELLING CCCCCCCCCCCCCC ER Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED TES WALTER O. SNELLING, OF ALLENTOWN', PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOTROJAN POW- DER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

OORDEAU CONNECTEB.

Application filed December 9, 1926.

This invention relates to improvements in devices for connecting orestablishing a union between lines of cordeau or detonating fuse, andthe principal object of the 1nvention is to provide means forquickly andsafely connecting lines of detonating fuse and for increasing thecertainty of detonation of the lines connected.

Preferred embodiments of my invention are illustrated in the attacheddrawing, in which: 7

Figures 1 and 2 respectively illustrate, in perspective views, thesections of a two-part union or connecter;

Figure 8 illustrates in perspective a form of clamp by which thesections may be retained in operative relation;

Figure 4: is a transverse section through the connecter illustrated in:the preceding figures Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to that ofFigure 4, but illustrating a modified form of connecter, and

Figure 6 is also a sectional View of the connecter shown in Figure 5,illustrating a different arrangement of parts whereby the relation ofthe retained ends of the detonating fuse, such as cordeau, is varied.

Prior to my invention various means have been employed for connectinglines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type, which in the hands ofexperienced and careful men have afforded satisfactory results. Greatcare, however, must be exercised in these prior'methods to bring the twolines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type into very intimate contactat the point of junction, since otherwise failures may occur.

By the present invention, I provide perforated, grooved or recessedpellets or blocks of a moldable explosive, the perforations, grooves orrecesses being of such size and so arranged as to render them adaptablefor receiving and holding cordeau type detonating fuse of the usualdiameter. The molded pellets or blocks in the preferred form are rigidand of suflicient strength to withstand any ordinary strains between theconnected lines of detonating fuse, and to insure retention of the lineswithout danger of rupture. In general, any explosive material capable ofbeing molded into a body of substantial solidity and coherence bypressure, by casting from the molten state or by bonding the brains ofthe explosive together by the addition of agglutinants Serial No.153,629.

with or without the application of pressure, and whichstill retains theproperty of accepting detonation from a No. 6 detonating cap, issuitable for use in practicing my invention. I may for example, use TNT,tetryl, or nitrostarch.

Although the blocks may be made by casting an explosive, such as tetrylfor example, to form from the molten state, I prefer to employ theexplosive in the crystalline or granular condition since I have foundthat the latter method has material advantages over and affordsgenerally better results than the former. The sensitiveness todetonation of cast TNT, for example, is very low whereas blocks made byconsolidating crystalline TNT, either with or without the aid ofagglutinants, are much more sensitive and readily accept detonation froma No. 6 detonating cap,

In forming the blocks, by the preferred method the explosive crystals orgranules are pressed together or mixed with an aggulti nant and pressedor molded into the desired form. Where agglutinants may be required suchsubstances as stearic acid and rosin will be found satisfactory. I havefound that stearic acid or rosin mixed with crystalline explosives suchas TNT and tetryl in amounts from to 2% of the mixture impart increasedrigidity to the molded explosive while they still retain thecharacteristic of being detonated by a No. 6 detonating cap, It will ofcourse be understood that other crystalline or granular explosives thanthose mentioned, having sufficient sensitiveness to detonation to acceptdetonation from a No. 6 detonating cap and which can be molded bypressure, the use of agglutinants, or both in combination, may be used.Y

Although many crystalline or granular explosive materials will be foundsuitable for practicing the invention, I prefer to employ nitrostarchmixtures, and as two specific examples of nitrostarch compositions whichwill be found satisfactory, I may cite the following:

These mixtures are made. up I by. melting stearic acid (if present)diphenylamine and TNT oil. This combination is then mixed withxtheNH;C1;; andr sieved through a .125 mm. vsieve-:after-Whichtheonitrostarch is added, mixed and the Whole passed through a 1.0mm. sieve.

'The actual form of theunions'inayj vary widely. In'Figures 1 to t'inclusive, for exform and adapted to be laid and held] to gether asshown in Figure'h. Each of the sections 1 and 2 is providedflin theabuttlng faces, with grooves or recesses '3, which preferably 'are setin each" face toa depthlsome what less than the radius ofthe cordeau, sothatiwhen the ends at, 4 of the two lines of cordeau to be connected arelaid in the grooves of one section as shown in FigureQ and the sectionsplaced together as shown in Figure 4C, the cordeau will be firinlygrippedor clamped between the two sections. Various'means may beprovided for securely holding the sections'together so that the piecesof cordeau' are firmly retained, such for example as thespringclipf5,shown in Figure ,3, which embraces the'sectio'ns 1 and 2, thisclipeXerting sufficient pressure against the outer spaces of thesections 1 and 2 to afford the desired clamping action.

In Figure 5 I have illustrated a modified form of union comprising inthis 1 case two sections 6 and respectively, each having in one face agroove 8 of'so mewhat less depth than'the full diameter of the cordeaufuse ti: so that when the sectionsb and 7 are laid together as showninFigure 5 with the pieces of cordeau occupying the-grooves -8,

the 1 aforedescribed "clamping! action is ob tainable, ,In' this;instance, a bolt 9 is em-. ployed which. passes through. a centralaperture ineach of the sections 6 and 7, being provided with a wing nutwhich may be turned down in ordertodravv'the vtwo sections" together. Inorder to pr'event the tendency of the wing nut to fracture or iiijurethe sections 6i and; L preferably em; ploy washers 11, 11 disposedbetween v the heading of the bolt andwthe winginuh're spectl velv, andthefaces ofxthe union; 7

Instead of securing theparts. 6 and: 7- together as shown in Figure5they may so arranged that thegrooves 8 extend an angle wrath other andintersect; Iii this instance as shownthe pieces of cordeau are made: tointersect each other and actually comeiinto close matter at the iintersectioni It' will be obvious'tha't' the afctuallfornrof theconnector may vary Wide1y, and-although in the-present instance'l haveshown a preferred type involving-sections which" are 7 These mixturesare then pressed into the desired form using a pressure of 1125 l g-.persquarece'ntinieter, when they reach a density of 1.59.

this bolt ad-aptedto be held together and'to clamp betweenthem thepieces of detonatmg fuse, it will be apparent that the union may takethe form of a solid block Or -pellet adapted deau as hereindescribedlmay use the con-' necters for any detonating'fuse comprising acolumn of 'a suitable explosive sheathed' by a containing tube, similarin construction to cordeau.

Iclaim: y y 1.. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeautype comprising a rlgid' selfsustai'ning block of explosive composltionwithmeans for attaching. thereto a plurality of pieces of detonatingfuse. 2. A c'onnecter for lines of detonatingfuse of the cordeau typecomprising a rigid block of explosive composition' \i' ithn'ieansfor1nsei'ting thereint'o a9 detonating fuse. V v v I '3. aconnecter forlines of detonating use of the cordea'u typecomprising a rigid block ofexplosive composition having a recess or recesses ior the reception'ofdetonating fuse. 4. A connecter forlinesof detonat'ing fuse of. thecordeau type comprising a rigid'block of explosive, composition havingoneor more perforations for the reception of] the detonating fusel i v5. A co'iinecter for lines of detonatingfu se of thecordeau typecoinprisinga rigid block of explosive composition having recess orrecesses for reception of' detonating; fuse and means forxret'ainingithe detonating fusein sailrecessor recesses. of. thecor'deau. type; comprising a rigid block of explosive composition havingone or ncore perforations' for the reception of detonating fuse andmeans for retainingthe; detonating fuse in said perforation orperforations.

o 7-? e a r r i e de q a i gi e ef ew deeu yp eq p fi nga r gid o k ofan explosive composition containingnitro starfch, adapted. to receiveand retain a plurality 'i de -det na s i e .A 1 a 8 -0 ii et lr i a o ta n u e of t .CQrd ai ne, sqm ri ine aa g b ock q ting dher n pa t es ata l; 92;- plosive compositionhand adapted toreceive and retain (a(plurality of: pieces: of the; det

onatiiig ffuse.

, 9; ,A scattere -i ol-" aw's ,ofidetoriatinglfusie the 'co'r'deau type,comprising rigid block consisting, of adherent 7 particles. 1 of a, finegr'aineagexplosi e' com osition nd,- dapted the"detoiiating fu to"receive .andiretain' a plurality of pieces of plurality of pieces of Aconnecter lines of detonatingt fuse 7 10. A connecter for lines ofdetonating fuse of the cord-eau type, comprising a rigid blockconsisting of agglutinant bonded particles of an explosive compositionand adapted to receive and retain a plurality of pieces of thedetonating fuse.

11. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau typecomprising a rigid block of hard and coherent explosive compositionsensitive to detonation from a No. 6 detonating cap and adapted toreceive and go retain aplurality of lines of detonating use.

12. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau typecomprising separable blocks of hard and coherent explosive compositionsensitive to detonation from a. No. 6 detonating cap, and means forholding the separable blocks together..

13. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type,comprising separable rigid blocks of an explosive composition, and meansfor securing the blocks together so as to retain a plurality of piecesof said detonating fuse.

14. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type,comprising separable blocks consisting of adherent particles of anexplosive composition, and means for holding the separable blockstightly together.

15. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type,comprising separable blocks consisting of adherent particles of a finegrained explosive composition, said blocks being adapted to receive andretain a plurality of lines of detonating fuse, and means for holdingthe separable blocks together.

16. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse of the cordeau type,comprising sepaof an explosive composition, said blocks having recessesor grooves in their abutting faces adapted for the reception of thedetonating fuse, and means for holding said blocks together.

19. A connecter for lines of detonating 1 fuse of the cordeau typecomprising separable blocks consisting of adherent particles of anexplosive composition, each block havmg a recess or groove in the facethat abuts the other block adapted for the reception of detonating fuseand being slightly less in depth than the diameter of the detonatingfuse, and means for holding said blocks to gether.

20. A connecter for lines of detonating fuse comprising separable blocksconsisting of adherent particles of an explosive composition, each blockhaving a recess in the face that abuts the other block for reception ofdetonating fuse, but said recesses being slightly less in depth than thediameter of the said detonating fuse, and means for se curing the blockstogether with said recesses intersecting.

' WALTER O. SNELLING.

